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Airline fined for flight returns

By Qian Yanfeng and Jin Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-18 09:46

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) imposed severe punishment on China Eastern Airlines yesterday for unauthorized flight returns by its pilots in Yunnan province on March 31 and April 1.

Related readings:  China Eastern Airlines apologizes for flight returns incident  China Eastern Airlines fined for earlier flight disruption  China Eastern to compensate affected passengers  CAAC starts investigation on 'return flights'

CAAC scrapped some China Eastern's flights within Yunnan, and "handed them to other airline operators".

The airline was also fined 1.5 million yuan ($214,000), and ordered to upgrade its Quick Access Recorder (QAR) system within three months. Compensation to passengers must be dealt with as soon as possible, CAAC said.

It said China Eastern must punish company officials involved, and make further investigations into the alleged "human factors" blamed for the flight returns. The findings must be submitted to the CAAC.

Investigations by the CAAC showed that at least four of the 21 flight returns were carried out deliberately, five "blindly" followed suit, two returned due to bad weather, and one reported aircraft malfunction.

Reasons for the return of nine other flights have yet to be determined as the authorities have been unable access data from the onboard QAR.

CAAC said flights from Kunming to other cities in Yunnan were returned without authorization. This caused delays and inconvenience to passengers.

China Eastern yesterday said it was "deeply regretful" passengers were inconvenienced, and apologized to "the society in general". It pledged to improve its management systems while stepping up the moral education of its pilots. Efforts to protect the interests of the passengers and enhance its service quality will be made, the airline said.

Earlier this month, China Eastern said the flight returns were due to poor weather. This was disputed by the passengers. It then admitted on April 7 that some pilots had deliberately returned to Kunming in an industrial action to demand higher salaries.

A report in Southern Weekend yesterday said at least 11 China Eastern pilots had been suspended for their roles in the incident.